Driver Fatigue Key Focus Over Holidays

Driver fatigue continues to be a
focus for road safety agencies over the holiday period.

Waikato District Council road safety co-ordinator Megan
Jolly said many people are quick to think of speed and
alcohol as key road safety issues, but fatigue is also a
killer on our roads.

Pre-Christmas, the council,
police, Ngaruawahia volunteer fire brigade and Huntly and
Ngaruawahia St John carried out driver fatigue promotions on
State Highway 1 in Ngaruawahia and Huntly. Approximately
1200 Motorists were stopped briefly by the police, with
volunteers from the emergency services handing out
information on how to avoid driver fatigue.

“The key
message was to ‘catch up on lost sleep’ before you set
out on holiday, and to have frequent breaks when driving
long distances. Drivers were also advised to pull over and
have a 20 minute power nap if they were driving
tired.

“We sweetened up the message for motorists by
handing out KitKat chocolate bars with the slogan ‘have a
break have a KitKat,’ Ms Jolly said. The KitKats were
sponsored by Nestle.

The fatigue stops were also supported
by Fulton Hogan and the NZ Transport Agency.

Overseas
research suggests that up to 25 per cent of all fatal
crashes could be fatigue related.

Data from 2007-2011
suggests that fatigue related crashes are trending down in
the Waikato region. However over the same period there has
been 194 serious fatigue related crashes that included 60
deaths.

Motorists who find themselves driving tired are
advised to either swap drivers or pull over for a power nap.
ENDS

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